Klopp should move Gomez back inside to counter Richarlison’s pace in behind

Dejan Lovren’s lack of recovery pace would be a concern for Liverpool against the rapid threat of Everton’s Richarlison, so moving Joe Gomez back in alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-half is a much more secure option.

Jurgen Klopp has made little secret of the faith he has in Joe Gomez this season and the former Charlton man has responded by producing some excellent form.

Perhaps because he still does not trust Trent Alexander-Arnold defensively after he was exposed by Marcus Rashford against Manchester United earlier this year, Klopp keeps moving Gomez between right-back and centre-back.

That doesn’t really help Gomez, not least because it robs him of big-match experience in his preferred central defensive role, and it did not pay off in the 2-1 Champions League defeat against PSG on Wednesday.

On the back of that testing trip, Everton lie in wait in Sunday’s Merseyside derby and their new-found confidence means they will be looking to exploit any lingering tiredness in the Reds ranks at Anfield.

(Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The Toffees’ biggest threat is Richarlison, who has been redeployed in a central role for much of this season by Marco Silva, who used him out on the left flank during their time together at Watford.

Dejan Lovren took to the pitch in Paris but his lack of pace on the turn would be a real concern against the Brazilian, who offers a real menace in behind.

That means Gomez should shuffle back across to central defence to use his pace to counteract Richarlison, with Rent Alexander-Arnold coming back in at right-back.